Honolulu Korean Methodist Church choir (Photo from the photographic collection of the Korean American Archive, University of Southern California)

Korean churches in the United States play a very important role for Korean immigrants. Historically, Korea was not a Protestant country. Rather, Buddhism and Confucianism were the two major religions that influenced the lives of Koreans. However, a large number of Korean immigrants have been associated with Christianity since the beginning of Korean American history. At the turn of the century, missionaries in Korea built schools and hospitals and provided various social services for Koreans. They were successful in spreading Christianity and made concerted efforts to recruit laborers that would eventually work in Hawaiian plantations. Approximately 40 percent of immigrants who went to work for Hawaiian plantations were Christians.

When Korea was colonized by Japan, the Korean immigrant church became a major place for the Korean national independence movement. After Korea was liberated and a large number of immigrants started to move to the United States, the immigrant church again became the center for community services and cultural activities. Studies suggest that approximately 70 percent of Koreans living in the United States are Christians. The leading Korean denomination is Presbyterian followed by Baptist, Methodist, and Full Gospel.

“Americanization class” at Korean Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles (Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection)

As mentioned in the previous chapter, a large number of Korean immigrants who arrived after 1965 were middle class professionals from urban areas. According to Kwang Chung Kim and Shin Kim, those who lived in the urban areas were more likely to associate with Christian religions than people living in rural areas. However, not all church goers were Christians before coming to the United States. Some initially went to churches to receive social services necessary to adjust to the American way of life and later became Christians. Though attending church for religious activities seems to be the primary motive behind high attendance rates, the social service and fellowship aspects of Korean churches help increase the number of Korean Christians in the United States.

For many Korean immigrants, churches also help them maintain their cultural and ethnic ties. Churches often serve Korean meals after services, celebrate Korean traditional and religious holidays, and house Korean language schools for the children of immigrants to learn the language of their homeland. Some church language schools have extensive summer programs focused on teaching Korean language and culture.

Today, Korean churches are mostly run by the first generation Korean male immigrants. Though many American-born children attend church with their parents, there is growing dissatisfaction expressed by English-speaking church attendees who feel that Korean immigrants mix religious activities with Korean traditions including gender inequality. While English speaking congregations are increasing, the generational and cultural gaps between the first generation Korean immigrants and American-born populations remain unresolved within many churches.

Despite some of these problems, churches play an important role in providing immigrants with social services. Pastors often serve as family counselors and are deeply involved in finding jobs for many immigrants. Members of church exchange all kinds of information ranging from education, health care, social security benefits to business know-how. Also, newly arrived immigrants who experience language barriers can receive language assistance.

In addition to the social services that many Korean churches provide, a number of immigrants attend Korean churches to make friends and socialize. Separated from their friends and family members in Korea, immigrants often feel isolated and lonely. Because adjusting to a new way of life is difficult, sharing stories with other immigrants in similar situations often helps them relieve stress and cope with their alienation and anxiety. Most churches also hold outdoor services accompanied by recreational activities such as sports, games, and singing in order to foster intimate circles of friendship among church goers.

Koreans get help from Father Matthew Ahn of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Hollywood, 1977 (Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection)

Finally, Korean churches provide opportunities for many immigrants to hold important positions and statuses. They often serve as elders, program directors, and youth group leaders. Many Korean immigrants held high social positions in Korea but could not maintain similar positions in the United States because of language barriers and other difficulties related to their assimilation. Korean churches provide meaningful positions for Korean immigrants who yearn for the social status that they had enjoyed in their homeland.

References

1.Chong, Kelly H. (1998). “What It Means To Be Christian: The Role of Religion in the Construction of Ethnic Identity and Boundary among Second Generation Korean Americans.” Sociology of Religion, 56(3), 259-286.

2.Kim, Rebecca Y. (2006). God’s New Whiz Kids?: Korean American Evangelicals on Campus. NY: New York University Press.

3.Kwon, Ho-Youn, Kim, Kwang Chung, and Warner, R. Stephen (2001). Korean Americans and Their Religions: Pilgrims and Missionaries from a Different Shore. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press.

1.Chong, Kelly H. (1998). “What It Means To Be Christian: The Role of Religion in the Construction of Ethnic Identity and Boundary among Second Generation Korean Americans.” Sociology of Religion, 56(3), 259-286.

2.Kim, Rebecca Y. (2006). God’s New Whiz Kids?: Korean American Evangelicals on Campus. NY: New York University Press.

3.Kwon, Ho-Youn, Kim, Kwang Chung, and Warner, R. Stephen (2001). Korean Americans and Their Religions: Pilgrims and Missionaries from a Different Shore. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press.